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challenge for the compost 'steward' will be to sort out the compost bins at the allotment (we have 3 at home and plan for another 3 on the plot).  We use one to store brown materials which we have gathered up like bags of leaves and some paper,  the other

yourself an allotment.Aaah...the space to indulge your quiet fantasies of cascades of cauliflowers, orgies of onions, buckets of beetroot and pantechnicons of potatoes. Maybe even a peaceful shed with primus stove and a battered armchair.However, in order

variety I'll invest in for the allotment.It won't be long before I'm making one of my favourite desserts: blackcurrant leaf ice. It's an old Constance Spry sorbet recipe which is both heavenly and low in calories. In deference to Ms Spry

August can often feel like a tricky time on the allotment. Lots of things like salad potatoes and beetroot have been harvested, leaving large gaps or whole beds free. Then there's the interruption of a summer holiday - should you sow anything new

discovered cacti at university. It wasn't long before I had a flat full of plants and an allotment of my own to play with.I couldn't live without gardening - it makes me feel whole. If I'm tired, stressed, unhappy, I garden to feel better. I get up early

I'm delighted to tell you that my main crop potatoes look absolutely fine and dandy. The tops were completely dead from blight - they were as lush and lovely as anything a fortnight ago - but I've got the spuds out before they were affected. Hooray!Now I'm busily into planting up...

It suddenly feels like summer is gone! The days are shorter almost overnight and there's that autumnal nip in the air of a morning, which is making me think that my summer harvests are going to start drawing to a close very quickly. There was even a frost here the other day - wel...

I can't believe it's September already! There's even a hint of autumn in the air, the holly berries are starting to turn and there have been heavy dewfalls overnight as well. Still at least the dew has saved me from rushing up to the plot and watering too often!It's all starting ...

I'm always rather staggered by Jerusalem artichokes. Firstly, by their impressive and evocative name; it makes me think of exotic locations with correspondingly interesting cuisine and highly sought-after seasonal foods of subtle flavour. Secondly by their sheer size! Jerusalem a...

After a seemingly endless period of dismal drear (probably only a few days in reality but it felt like it went on for a decade), we finally made it to the plot on a cold, crisp frosty day. Everything crunched underfoot rather beautifully and woolly hat and socks were de rigueur f...